Hydraulic cylinder

Abstract

An end cap adapted to be inserted into one end of a hydraulic cylinder having a body of plastic material defining a bore open at one end thereof and an end wall at the other end thereof closing the bore. A cylindrical tube is positioned within the bore and a piston is reciprocal within the tube. The end cap sandwiches the tube between the end cap and the end wall and the end cap includes radially extending circumferentially spaced ribs which collapse against the tube as the end cap is inserted into the cylinder.

We claim: 
     
       1. A hydraulic cylinder having a body of synthetic plastic material with a bore therein open at one end thereof and a wall at the other end thereof, the bore being line by a cylindrical tube in which a piston is reciprocable, the body having an end cap at its open end which sandwiches the tube between the end cap and the end wall, wherein at least one of the ends of the tube abuts ribs on at least one of said end cap and said end wall, and said ribs being collapsible to accommodate the tube when the end cap is located in said open end. 
     
     
       2. A hydraulic cylinder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ribs have a thickness of between 0.75-0.5 mm and a height of between 1.2-1.4 mm. 
     
     
       3. A hydraulic cylinder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end cap is manufactured from glass filled nylon. 
     
     
       4. A hydraulic cylinder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ribs are on the end cap. 
     
     
       5. A hydraulic cylinder as claimed in claim 4 wherein said ribs comprise circumferentially spaced, radially extending ribs. 
     
     
       6. A hydraulic cylinder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydraulic cylinder is a master cylinder. 
     
     
       7. A hydraulic clutch actuator comprising a master cylinder, a slave cylinder, and a conduit interconnecting the master cylinder and the slave cylinder, characterized in that the master cylinder comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a body of synthetic plastic material with a bore therein open at one end thereof and a wall at the other end thereof, the bore being lined by a cylindrical tube in which a piston is reciprocable, the body having an end cap at its open end which sandwiches the tube between the end cap and the end wall, wherein at least one of the ends of the tube abuts ribs on at least one of said end cap and said end wall, and said ribs being collapsible to accommodate the tube when the end cap is located in said open end. 
     
     
       8. A hydraulic clutch actuator as claimed in claim 7 wherein the actuator system is assembled, filled with hydraulic fluid, and tested before fitting on a vehicle.